What does pretense mean?

Definitions for pretense
prɪˈtɛns, ˈpri tɛnspre·tense

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word pretense.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. pretense, pretence, pretending, simulation, feigningnoun

    the act of giving a false appearance

    "his conformity was only pretending"

  2. pretense, pretence, feigning, dissemblingnoun

    pretending with intention to deceive

  3. pretense, pretence, make-believenoun

    imaginative intellectual play

  4. pretension, pretense, pretencenoun

    a false or unsupportable quality

  5. guise, pretense, pretence, pretextnoun

    an artful or simulated semblance

    "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them"

Wiktionary

  1. pretensenoun

    A false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.

  2. pretensenoun

    Intention or purpose not real but professed.

    without pretense of accuracy

  3. pretensenoun

    An unsupported claim made or implied.

  4. pretensenoun

    An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.

  5. Etymology: From pretensse, from prætensus, past participle of prætendere, from præ- + tendere; see pretend.

ChatGPT

  1. pretense

    Pretense is an attempt to make something appear true or real when it is not, often to deceive or impress others. It can refer to a false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions or an insincere or false claim. It may also refer to an act of pretending or make-believe.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pretensenoun

    alt. of Pretence

Wikidata

  1. Pretense

    The Tollan put Skaara and Klorel on trial to determine who will control the host body.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Pretense

    Same as Pretence.

Suggested Resources

  1. Pretense

    Pretence vs. Pretense -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Pretence and Pretense.

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for pretense »

  1. Petersen

  2. preteens

  3. pre-teens

  4. terpenes

How to pronounce pretense?

How to say pretense in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of pretense in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of pretense in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of pretense in a Sentence

  1. Senator Richard Blumenthal:

    A public health crisis cannot be a pretense to pave over our privacy laws or legitimize tech companies' intrusive data collection about American's personal lives.

  2. Havelock Ellis:

    Jealousy - that dragon which slays love under the pretense of keeping it alive.

  3. Maya Angelou:

    A bizarre sensation pervades a relationship of pretense. No truth seems true. A simple morning's greeting and response appear loaded with innuendo and fraught with implications. Each nicety becomes more sterile and each withdrawal more permanent.

  4. Thomas Jefferson:

    I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

  5. Di Carlo:

    We think that was a pretense to harass her.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for pretense

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for pretense »

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"pretense." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/pretense>.

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